Recloseable tear strip carton having cover lock



March Z1, 1967 K. T. BUTTERY 3,310,223

RECLOSEABLE TEAR STRIP CARTON HAVING COVER LOCK Filed April 27, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet l arch 21, 1967 K. T. BUTTERY 3,310,223

RECLOSEABLE TEAR STRIP CARTON HAVING COVER LOCK Filed April 27, 1965 4 Sheets-Swine?l 2 #fermez/ Z7 zzzfely K. T. BUTTERY 3,310,223

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 RECLOSEABLE TEAR STRIP CARTON HAVING COVER LOCK March 21, 1967 Filed April 27, 1965 arch 2l, 1967 K. T. BUTTERY 3,30,223

REGLOSEABLE TEAR STRIP CARTON HAVING COVER LOCK Filed .April 27, 1965 l 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,316,223 RECLSEABLE TEAR STRIP CARTON HAVENG COVER LOCK Kenneth T. Buttery, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Brown Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 451,186 8 Claims. (Cl. 229-51) The present invention relates tocartons, and is more particularly concerned with a sealable carton having severance means provided in its cover flaps, and having means provided whereby the cover may be reclosed and locked in place after the carton has been once opened, and with a carton blank from which said carton may be erected.

Cartons having a so-called flip top cover hingedly connected to the edge of the rear panel, and which may be erected with the cover in sealed condition and provided with severance means so -that the cover may be opened as by the removal of tear strips, have become exceedingly popular, particularly for use as containers for items such as -ice cream, cookies, crackers, and the other foods. Once the tear strip is removed, the cover may be opened for access to some or all of the contents, and may be reclosed for further storage until the contents have been completely consumed. However, for certain purposes it is desirable to have a structure wherein the cover of the carton may be not only closed, but also locked, so that even if the carton is accidentally dropped or turned over, the cover will not open to discharge the contents of the carton. Prior cartons of the type described have hitherto been diicult and costly to assemble.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a top-opening carton f the flip top type which may be sealed and subsequently opened as by the removal of a tear strip. It is another object to provide such a carton which may be readily reclosed when it is desired to store unconsumed contents. It is a further object to provide a carton of the type described which may be formed from an integral cut and scored blank. It is a still further object to provide a carton of the type described which is end-filling and which can be readily erected and subsequently sealed by means of relatively simple and inexpensive machinery. It is a primary object of the invention to provide a carton of the type described having means for locking the cover in place once the carton has been opened, and wherein the cover may be manually locked and unlocked many times without tearing the locking structure or rendering it inoperative. accomplishment of the foregoing and additional objects will become more fully apparent hereinafter.

The invention in its preferred embodiment is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a -cut and scored blank for forming a carton according to the invention, viewed from the inside surface thereof.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the blank shown in FIG. l after the lock flaps have been folded and glued in place.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the blank of FIG. v2 partially glued in the form of a folded sleeve.

FIG. 4 -is a perspective view of the completely assembled and sealed carton.

The

Uhrice FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the carton of FIG. 4 after it has been opened.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the carton taken at the line 6 6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 6, showing the lock flaps -in engagemen-t to secure the cover when the cover is moved toward open position.

According to the invention, a carton is formed from an integral blank comprising a bottom, front and rear side walls, end Walls, and a cover. The cover is provided w-ith three cover flaps or walls having detachable means, as for example glue strips, for being aiiixed to the front wall and end walls of the carton. The free edge of the cover front wall and the free edge of the carton front wall are each provided with lock aps at their ends arranged for mutual engagement to prevent accidental opening of the cover after the glue strips are detached. Moreover, the lock flaps of the front wall are so contoured that the cover may be readily disengaged manually when it is so desired without tearing the lock aps.

In a preferred form, the carton of the invention is constructed from an integral blank, as illustrated in FIG. l. The structure comprises a bottom 1, a front wall 2 hingedly connected to one edge of the bottom, and a rear wall 3 hingedly connected to the other edge of the bottom. The bottom is provided at its ends with inner end wall flaps 4, the front wall is provided with end flaps 5, and the rear wall 3 is provided with end flaps 6. A cover 7 is hingedly connected to the edge of the rear wall 3 and is provided with cover flaps comprising cover end wall panels 8 and 9, and a cover front wall 10. The cover end Wall panel 8 -is provided with parallel score lines 11 dening a tear strip 12, a cover wall 13, and a glue strip 14. The cover end wall panel 9 is provided with parallel fracture scores 15 defining a tear strip lo, a cover wall 17, and a glue strip'18. The tear strips 12 and 16 are provided with tabs 19 and 20, respectively, to facilitate engagement thereof.

The cover front wall 10 is provided with end flaps 21 and 22, lcomprising glue flaps 23 and 24 and foldover or retaining flaps 23a and 24a. A fracture score 25 and a slit 26 cooperate to define a detachable glue flap 27, and a lock ilap 28 which is hingedly connected to both the fold-over flap 23a and the cover front wall 10. A fracture score 29 and slit 30 cooperate to define a detachable glue strip 31 and a lock ap 32 hingedly connected to both the fold-over ap 24a and the -cover front wall 1). The cover front wall 10 is also slit and scored to define a -tab 33 for facilitating the opening of the cover. A pair of lock flaps 34 and 35 are provided at the free edge of the front `wall 2 having beveled ends 36 and 37 respectively. Areas to which an adhesive is applied are indicated in the drawings by stippling.

In assembling the carton, the fold-over flaps 32a and 24a are folded over and glued to the glue flaps 23 and 24 respectively, causing the lock flaps 2S and 32 to be folded over and maintained in position against the outer front wall 10 but not adhesively secured thereto. The glue ilaps 27 and 31 may then be glued to the front wall 2, to form a semi-assembled folded tubular carton in which form a large number of cartons occupying only a small space may be shipped to the packager for filling.

To erect the carton further for filling, the folded carton may be squared up by suitable means such as on a conventional squaring machine. One end is then closed by folding in the inner end wall flap and the flaps 5 and 6. The cover end wall 8 or 9 is then folded over and glued by means of the glue strip i4 or 18 to the previously folded flaps. The carton may then be filled at the end remaining open. After filling, the open end may be folded and glued in a manner similar to that described with regard to the first end, resulting in a sealed carton. To open the carton, the tabs 19 and Ztl are grasped and the tear strips 12 and 16 removed. The tab 33 is then grasped and the cover front wall lil separated from the glue aps 27 and 31 at the fracture scores 25 and 29. The contents may then be removed from the carton, either completely or in part. if it is desired to store unconsumed contents, the cover may be reclosed. In closed position the lock aps have the configuration shown in FIG. 6. If the cover should accidentally move toward open position, as when the carton is dropped, the lock tiaps 23 and 32 are engaged by the lock flaps 34 and 35 respectively, as shown in FIG. 7, and are locked with sufiicient force so that the cover will not open.

When it is desired to reopen the cover, a sufficient force is applied so that the lock aps 28 and 32 are forced out of the detent flaps 34 and 35 at the beveled ends 36 and 37 respectively. This operation may be performed many times without tearing the lock aps because of the controlled releasing action of the beveled ends 36 and 37, especially when they operate in conjunction with oppositely beveled ends of lock iiaps 28 and 32.

The carton of the present invention has a number of outstanding features, including a dip-top, tear strips for facilitating the opening of the carton, and an end-filling type of construction. Additionally, it has the advantage over previously disclosed cartons in that, in combination With the features described, it is provided with means for closing and locking the cover in place after the carton has once been opened.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction, operation, or exact materials or embodiments shown and described, as obvious modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and the invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A carton formed of an integral blank cut and scored to provide a bottom member, a rear wall member, a front wall member, and end wall flaps attached to said members, a cover hingedly connected to the upper edge of said rear wall Amember and provided with cover flaps comprising cover end walls and a cover front wall, said cover end walls being provided with detachable means securing said cover end walls to said end aps and said cover front Wall being provided with detachable means securing said cover front wall to said front Wall, said cover front wall being provided at each end with an end flap comprising a glue flap and a retaining flap hingedly connected and folded over and glued to said glue ap, a lock Hap at each end of said cover front wall hingedly connected to the free edge thereof, each of said lock aps also being hingedly connected at one end to an end of one of said retaining aps, whereby said lock flaps are maintained in faceto-face relationship with the inner surface of said cover front wall, said front wall member being provided at each end of the free edge thereof with a lock flap hingedly connected thereto adapted interlockingly to engage and retain the lock aps of said cover for preventing said cover from opening.

2. A carton according to claim 1, wherein the outer ends of the lock flaps of said front wall are beveled to facilitate disengagement of said lock flaps when said cover is opened.

3. A carton according to claim 2, wherein the inner ends of the lock flaps of said cover front wall are beveled oppositely to the outer ends of said front wall member lock aps.

4. A carton formed of an integral blank cut and scored to provide a bottom member, a rear wall member, a front wall member, and end wall aps attached to said members, a cover hingedly connected to the upper edge of said rear wall member and provided with cover flaps comprising cover end walls and a cover front Wall, said cover end walls each being provided with a pair of spaced-apart substantially parallel fracture scores defining a tear strip and being secured to said end wall aps below the lower of said fracture scores, said cover front wall being provided at each end ,with an end ap comprising a glue flap and a retaining ap hingedly connected and folded over and glued to said glue iiap, a lock iiap at each end of said cover front wall hingedly connected to the tfree edge thereof, each of said lock flaps also being hingedly connected at one end to an end of one of said retaining aps, whereby said lock flaps are maintained in face-toface relationship with the inner surface of said cover front wall, said front Wall member being provided at each end of the free edge thereof with a lock ap hingedly connected thereto adapted interlockingly to engage and retain the lock flaps of said cover for preventing said cover from opening.

5. An integral blank for forming a carton cut and scored to provide a bottom member, a rear wall member, a front wall member, and end wall aps attached to said members, a cover hingedly connected to the upper edge of said rear wall member and provided with cover flaps comprising cover end walls and a cover front Wall, said lcover end walls being provided with `detachable means adapted to secure said cover end walls to said end flaps and said cover front wall being provided with detachable means adapted to secure said cover to said front wall, said cover front wall being provided at each end with an end ap comprising a glue flap and a retaining flap hingedly connected and adapted to be folded over and glued to said glue iiap, a lock ap at each end of said cover front wall hingedly connected to the free edge thereof, each of said lock aps also being hingedly connected at one end to an end of one of said retaining flaps, whereby when said carton is erected said lock flaps are -maintained in face-to-face relationship with the inner surface of said cover front wall, and said front Wall member is provided at each end of the free edge thereof with a lock flap hingedly connected thereto adapted interlockingly to er1- gage and retain the lock flaps of said cover for preventing said cover from opening.

6. An integral blank according to claim 5, wherein the outer ends of the lock flaps of said front wall are beveled to facilitate disengagement of said lock aps when said cover is opened.

7. An integral blank of claim 6, wherein the inner ends of the lock flaps of said cover front wall are beveled oppositely to the outer ends of said front wall member lock flaps.

8. An integral blank for forming a carton cut and scored to provide a bottom member, a rear Wall member, a front wall member, and end wall aps attached to said members, a cover hingedly connected to the upper edge of said rear wall member and provided with cover flaps comprising cover end walls and a cover front wall, said cover end walls each being provided with a pair of spacedapart substantially parallel fracture scores defining a tear strip and being adapted to be secured to said end wall aps below the lower of sa-id fracture scores, said cover front wall being provided at each end with an end flap comprising a glue ap and a retaining Hap adapted to be hingedly connected and folded over and glued to said glue flap, a lock flap at each end of said cover front wall hingedly connected to the free edge thereof, each of said lock flaps also being hingedly connected at one end to an end of one of said retaining flaps, whereby when said carton is erected said lock aps are maintained in face-to- 5 face relationship with the inner surface of said cover front Wall, said front Wall member being provided at each end of the free edge thereof with a lock flap hingedly connected thereto adapted interlockingly to engage and retain the lock aps of said cover for preventing said cover -from opening.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/ 1945 Carruth et a1.

6 Williamson et al. 229-44 Osteen 229-45 Meyers 229-51 Bixler 229-51 Spiering et al 229-51 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain.

lo GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Examiner. 

1. A CARTON FORMED OF AN INTEGRAL BLANK CUT AND SCORED TO PROVIDE A BOTTOM MEMBER, A REAR WALL MEMBER, A FRONT WALL MEMBER, AND END WALL FLAPS ATTACHED TO SAID MEMBERS, A COVER HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID REAR WALL MEMBER AND PROVIDED WITH COVER FLAPS COMPRISING COVER ENDWALLS AND A COVER FRONT WALL, SAID COVER END WALLS BEING PROVIDED WITH DETACHABLE MEANS SECURING SAID COVER END WALLS TO SAID END FLAPS AND SAID COVER FRONT WALL BEING PROVIDED WITH DETACHABLE MEANS SECURING SAID COVER FRONT WALL TO SAID FRONT WALL, SAID COVER FRONT WALL BEING PROVIDED AT EACH END WITH AN END FLAP COMPRISING A GLUE FLAP AND A RETAINING FLAP HINGEDLY CONNECTED AND FOLDED OVER AND FLUED TO SAID GLUE FLAP, A LOCK FLAP AT EACH END OF SEAID COVER FRONT WALL HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE FREE EDGE THEREOF, EACH OF SAID LOCK FLAPS ALSO BEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO AN END OF ONE OF SAID RETAINING FLAPS, WHEREBY SAID LOCK FLAPS ARE MAINTAINED IN FACETO-FACE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID COVER FRONT WALL, SAID FRONT WALL MEMBER BEING PROVIDED AT EACH END OF THE FREE EDGE THEREOF WITH A LOCK FLAP HINGEDLY CONNECTED THERETO ADAPTED INTERLOCKINGLY TO ENGAGE AND RETAIN THE LOCK FLAPS OF SAID COVER FOR PREVENTING SAID COVER FROM OPENING. 